Best School Districts for Your Buck in California

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California boasts some of America’s top public schools and competition for homes in these districts can be fierce.

Take Piedmont, considered by some to be the best district in the San Francisco Bay Area. The average home price in Piedmont, according to Zillow, is $1,737,900. In Southern California, every single one of the schools in La Cañada Flintridge earned a perfect 10 at the popular school rating website GreatSchools. To buy a home there, be prepared to spend an average of $1.5 million. Both of these communities are well out of reach of the average worker in California, who earns about $1,100 a week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But there are hidden gems throughout the state — places where children can still get an excellent public education and home prices aren’t reserved for the very wealthy. NerdWallet crunched the numbers and found places for families who want strong schools near big cities or those who are looking to live in California’s more rural areas.

NerdWallet’s analysis

Here’s how we found the best school districts in California:

Affordability. We calculated this by averaging the district index score for median home values and selected monthly homeowner costs (which includes property tax) for the school district.Standardized test scores. We analyzed high school STAR scores and SAT scores for the 2012-13 school year. STAR, Standardized Testing and Reporting, has since been replaced by CAASPP, the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. These are the state’s student achievement assessments.College readiness. We factored in the most recent data on graduation rates and students seeking post-secondary education.Class size. We also considered the student-to-teacher ratio.

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Key takeaways

Small areas score big. Many high performing districts we found are in more rural areas such as in Calaveras County’s Gold Country. If your career isn’t tied to a major metropolitan area, these smaller communities can offer great value.

Affordable options exist. You don’t need to spend a mint to live in a good school district. In the area that supports high-performing Shasta Union High School District in Redding, home values average $236,400.

Best school districts in California

1. Davis Joint Unified School District

Davis Joint Unified is one of the highest-performing school districts in the state with a SAT average of 1756 and a graduation rate of 97.5%. Home values in this city west of Sacramento hover at about $546,000, which is on the higher end of our top 10. The district has 21 schools, including Davis Senior High and Da Vinci Charter Academy.

2. Scott Valley Unified School District

Established in 2007, this young school district, about 40 miles south of the Oregon border, has already seen marked success. Both Etna and Fort Jones elementary schools are California distinguished schools, and Scott Valley High School also impresses with STAR scores that are in the top quarter of results statewide. The cost of a home in this district, which prides itself on its location in the valleys of Siskiyou County, is on the lower end of our top 10 at $212,800. For families seeking smaller classes, the district of 700 features about 15 students per class.

3. Palo Alto Unified School District

Palo Alto, even with higher-end San Francisco Bay Area median home values upward of $1 million, makes our list because while housing in other school districts is just as costly, the quality here can’t be matched. The district has both the highest SAT and STAR scores in the state, and 89% of students go on to graduate from post-secondary education. Furthermore, Palo Alto Unified averages a class size of 17 students — offering a personalized education at all levels.

4. Shasta Union High School District

Serving Redding and surrounding areas in Northern California, Shasta Union High School District makes our list due to a strong graduation rate, solid test scores and housing costs of $234,600. Home to the Shasta Wolves, the Enterprise Hornets and Foothill’s Cougars, Shasta Union High is a school district that offers students a variety of extracurricular activities. Award-winning music programs and activities, such as mock trials and the robotics club, create a diverse student experience.

5. Bret Harte Union High School District

Bret Harte Union High School District, in the state’s Gold Country in Calaveras County, is named after the American poet. The district makes the list due to a strong graduation rate of 94.7% and a class size of 16 students. The Bret Harte High School is the major school in this district, which although small, provides an array of athletic programs, including football, golf and swimming.

6. Walnut Valley Unified School District

Located in eastern Los Angeles County, this school district serves the cities of Walnut and Diamond Bar. The school district had one of the state’s highest graduation rates of 98.3%, as well as a high SAT average of 1785. The school district is home to Walnut High, a two-time national blue ribbon school and a seven-time California distinguished school. The school has rigorous course requirements, but also offers electives such as business management and entrepreneurship and architecture: drawing and design.

7. Siskiyou Union High School District

Siskiyou Union High is a rural school district in Northern California’s Siskiyou County. This district, which is near several national parks, includes five high schools and about 750 students. Like nearby Shasta Union, homes are among the more affordable on our list at $240,000. The district’s largest high school, Mount Shasta, scores a 7 out of 10 at GreatSchools, and offers courses ranging from music theory to business law.

8. Sutter Union High School District

Sutter Union High School District makes our list as it’s both affordable — housing here is the lowest on our top 10 at $219,000 — and it has a high graduation rate of 98.8%. The rural school district near Yuba City, in the northern part of the state, is home to Sutter Union High School, widely known in the area for its successful athletic programs. The school also offers clubs such as the Future Business Leaders of America.

9. Acalanes Union High School District

This large school district that serves four different high schools in Contra Costa County scores impressive marks across the board. The district has the state’s highest rate of students who graduate from post-secondary education, as well as a graduation rate of 98.1%, and an average SAT score of 1802. The district’s quality is even throughout, and all four of its schools place in the top 60 of California’s over 1,000 high schools.

10. Durham Unified School District

Durham Unified seeks to educate by standing by its slogan “Small Schools, Big Education.” The superintendent’s promise to provide small class sizes at every grade level is backed up by data, which show a class size of 17 students. Durham High School has graduation rates of 94.5% with 86% going on to graduate from post-secondary education. The district, with an average home value of $354,300, is an option for those who want to live only miles from Chico, home of California State University, Chico.

Methodology

The score for each district was calculated from these measures:

Housing cost for each school district was 25% of the total score. Housing cost was calculated by averaging the district index score for median home values and selected monthly homeowner costs (which includes property tax) for the school district. The more affordable the area, the higher the cost score. Data are from the 2013 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Standardized testing score was 35% of the total score. The SAT average and mean scale score for the high school STAR test were equally weighted. STAR tests that were included for our rankings were summative math, integrated math 3, biology and English language arts. Data are from the California Department of Education.

College readiness for the class of 2013 was 30% of the total score. College readiness was a combination of a school district’s high school graduation rate, which is the percentage of students who graduate in the standard four years, and the percentage of students going on to four-year institutions for higher education. Data came from the California Department of Education.

Student-to-teacher ratio or class size was 10% of the score. This score was manually calculated by dividing the number of full-time teaching staff in a school by the number of students enrolled. Data are from the California Department of Education.

Best school districts in California (full data)

Rank

School district

2013 median home value

Average SAT score

High school STAR mean scale score

Graduation rate

Student-to-teacher ratio

1

Davis Joint Unified

$546,000

1756

384

97.50%

20.28

2

Scott Valley Unified

$212,800

1569

368

92.00%

15.91

3

Palo Alto Unified

$1,000,000

1954

429

93.50%

17.07

4

Shasta Union High

$236,400

1645

365

93.40%

21.62

5

Bret Harte Union High

$281,600

1554

363

94.70%

16.39

6

Walnut Valley Unified

$597,800

1722

402

98.30%

24.56

7

Siskiyou Union High

$240,000

1609

350

89.60%

12.96

8

Sutter Union High

$219,300

1496

351

98.80%

20.03

9

Acalanes Union High

$813,700

1803

404

98.10%

19.04

10

Durham Unified

$354,300

1547

360

94.50%

17.70

11

Irvine Unified

$639,900

1813

398

95.50%

24.87

12

Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified

$237,300

1454

366

94.70%

13.07

13

Muroc Joint Unified

$66,000

1471

358

93.90%

22.76

14

Chico Unified

$280,300

1605

357

88.10%

20.07

15

Rocklin Unified

$329,900

1604

380

95.00%

22.98

16

Calipatria Unified

$78,700

1344

344

90.30%

19.21

17

Fall River Joint Unified

$189,000

1495

354

88.30%

17.18

18

Nevada Joint Union High

$343,700

1708

361

90.80%

22.15

19

Northern Humboldt Union High

$328,900

1551

360

91.00%

17.05

20

Silver Valley Unified

$123,200

1431

350

93.90%

18.86

21

Paradise Unified

$189,200

1571

350

85.30%

19.55

22

Fremont Union High

$895,800

1841

411

94.00%

22.17

23

Plumas Unified

$243,100

1539

355

92.30%

16.60

24

Folsom-Cordova Unified

$305,600

1596

367

92.80%

23.06

25

San Luis Coastal Unified

$484,900

1660

369

96.50%

19.08

26

Arcadia Unified

$792,900

1789

399

98.30%

22.91

27

Fortuna Union High

$266,500

1573

357

90.60%

21.08

28

Conejo Valley Unified

$597,500

1700

393

96.30%

22.96

29

Oak Park Unified

$637,500

1783

395

95.30%

24.25

30

Mendocino Unified

$504,500

1717

369

93.00%

14.81

31

Temple City Unified

$584,500

1713

387

94.60%

25.21

32

Yreka Union High

$178,700

1541

355

94.50%

20.63

33

East Nicolaus Joint Union High

$294,000

1519

371

92.70%

18.16

34

Saddleback Valley Unified

$473,300

1627

384

95.30%

25.53

35

Summerville Union High

$314,900

1559

362

85.50%

15.11

36

Roseville Joint Union High

$317,400

1556

363

92.30%

22.00

37

El Dorado Union High

$368,300

1610

373

93.10%

23.54

38

Fremont Unified

$600,300

1739

385

82.10%

22.44

39

Mariposa County Unified

$235,800

1577

354

90.30%

19.00

40

Pleasanton Unified

$708,900

1786

386

95.30%

22.76

41

Modoc Joint Unified

$158,200

1557

329

90.00%

18.02

42

Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union

$1,000,000

1867

414

97.10%

19.01

43

Center Joint Unified

$201,600

1538

359

89.10%

24.20

44

Ventura Unified

$421,900

1602

364

90.30%

21.92

45

Sonora Union High

$262,300

1568

343

91.20%

20.45

46

Eureka City Unified

$249,100

1471

352

89.10%

20.16

47

Sierra Unified

$270,400

1570

367

90.50%

19.47

48

Scotts Valley Unified

$665,300

1653

387

97.90%

21.19

49

Ferndale Unified

$358,600

1474

356

97.10%

18.39

50

Benicia Unified

$423,700

1587

368

98.00%

22.87

51

Poway Unified

$550,100

1688

386

95.20%

26.66

52

South Pasadena Unified

$820,200

1761

402

97.20%

23.38

53

Imperial Unified

$177,300

1458

350

96.60%

23.64

54

San Ramon Valley Unified

$809,800

1743

403

98.40%

21.58

55

Elk Grove Unified

$238,500

1460

351

88.10%

19.02

56

Placer Union High

$357,900

1573

362

92.50%

22.78

57

Glendora Unified

$492,200

1594

370

97.90%

23.92

58

Golden Valley Unified

$262,800

1481

377

86.60%

21.86

59

Los Alamitos Unified

$566,000

1629

391

97.20%

25.55

60

San Lorenzo Valley Unified

$472,300

1634

368

94.40%

19.75

61

Lincoln Unified

$228,500

1529

354

85.20%

23.72

62

Lemoore Union High

$195,000

1447

360

87.60%

20.38

63

Clovis Unified

$264,900

1510

369

92.10%

24.28

64

Gridley Unified

$183,100

1440

352

83.50%

20.31

65

Albany City Unified

$621,900

1752

392

91.00%

18.65

66

Dublin Unified

$561,100

1629

377

95.50%

20.01

67

Borrego Springs Unified

$196,300

1351

352

84.60%

14.25

68

Morongo Unified

$124,600

1474

356

85.60%

21.83

69

Tulelake Basin Joint Unified

$134,400

1469

330

94.40%

13.85

70

San Marino Unified

$1,000,000

1831

412

99.30%

21.26

71

Wheatland Union High

$195,500

1416

347

96.00%

19.81

72

Black Oak Mine Unified

$299,000

1523

359

91.50%

19.75

73

Brea-Olinda Unified

$532,100

1606

385

96.40%

26.90

74

Lakeport Unified

$209,900

1455

355

90.40%

19.95

75

Sierra Sands Unified

$177,100

1664

357

92.70%

21.68

76

Calaveras Unified

$233,700

1566

344

91.30%

20.18

77

Carmel Unified

$909,000

1767

385

91.30%

15.31

78

Live Oak Unified

$160,100

1283

341

94.50%

21.22

79

Lodi Unified

$219,500

1479

359

82.80%

21.76

80

Exeter Union High

$198,200

1416

349

81.30%

21.50

81

Hilmar Unified

$228,600

1409

356

90.00%

19.33

82

Riverdale Joint Unified

$158,900

1291

347

98.20%

20.63

83

Anderson Union High

$202,200

1537

345

88.00%

22.83

84

Yuba City Unified

$189,300

1478

342

83.90%

20.00

85

Simi Valley Unified

$433,000

1626

363

84.70%

21.28

86

Livermore Valley Joint Unified

$486,300

1629

370

91.40%

20.64

87

La Canada Unified

$1,000,000

1853

403

97.60%

21.68

88

Turlock Unified

$191,700

1472

356

90.10%

21.81

89

Central Union High

$148,500

1402

342

86.00%

23.19

90

Travis Unified

$288,300

1516

360

94.00%

23.06

91

Temecula Valley Unified

$300,600

1522

366

94.00%

24.89

92

Oroville Union High

$153,000

1422

338

87.00%

21.51

93

Holtville Unified

$135,400

1284

340

89.00%

20.33

94

ABC Unified

$483,100

1600

373

93.40%

23.71

95

Del Norte County Unified

$198,400

1440

337

88.60%

19.02

96

Fort Bragg Unified

$336,500

1464

359

90.70%

15.21

97

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified

$574,100

1643

379

93.20%

23.99

98

Bear Valley Unified

$228,400

1586

349

91.00%

22.65

99

Martinez Unified

$383,400

1546

364

88.40%

21.86

100

Moorpark Unified

$526,200

1647

360

90.50%

23.59

101

Rim of the World Unified

$227,900

1548

350

84.40%

23.89

102

Kelseyville Unified

$234,500

1550

342

89.60%

20.70

103

Visalia Unified

$178,300

1428

346

88.30%

24.59

104

Mountain View-Los Altos Union

$1,000,000

1817

394

94.30%

19.36

105

Lompoc Unified

$257,500

1476

354

87.50%

20.31

106

Santa Ynez Valley Union High

$661,300

1615

365

95.60%

18.51

107

Modesto City High

$167,900

1462

351

84.20%

23.85

108

Claremont Unified

$505,500

1592

363

97.30%

23.47

109

Hughson Unified

$207,900

1457

357

93.50%

21.86

110

Lassen Union High

$191,400

1465

345

88.20%

23.36

111

Alhambra Unified

$421,000

1547

369

91.40%

25.00

112

Ukiah Unified

$298,800

1550

347

82.20%

18.45

113

West Sonoma County Union High

$543,600

1713

366

91.70%

20.34

114

San Dieguito Union High

$813,200

1761

391

97.20%

24.44

115

Trinity Alps Unified

$255,400

1502

344

96.70%

18.30

116

Yosemite Unified

$212,600

1531

356

83.30%

20.61

117

Manhattan Beach Unified

$1,000,000

1776

413

95.30%

21.48

118

Escalon Unified

$246,900

1462

358

95.00%

21.99

119

Bonita Unified

$433,100

1508

368

95.20%

23.96

120

Amador County Unified

$270,500

1522

352

86.20%

22.58

121

Sanger Unified

$208,400

1424

343

96.80%

19.70

122

Lone Pine Unified

$165,600

1625

322

96.20%

18.33

123

Snowline Joint Unified

$166,600

1532

341

87.00%

25.54

124

Oakdale Joint Unified

$250,100

1513

349

86.70%

21.88

125

Redlands Unified

$286,500

1521

354

91.20%

23.09

126

Glendale Unified

$597,400

1603

376

91.90%

22.89

127

Merced Union High

$149,800

1358

346

92.90%

23.01

128

Southern Humboldt Joint Unified

$328,100

1553

349

79.40%

17.95

129

Fullerton Joint Union High

$441,100

1566

377

91.90%

27.15

130

Brawley Union High

$149,700

1362

344

93.00%

23.82

131

Waterford Unified

$145,400

1438

349

94.50%

21.69

132

San Juan Unified

$259,000

1525

345

80.80%

21.93

133

Templeton Unified

$428,900

1604

357

97.80%

21.65

134

Fowler Unified

$214,100

1333

341

98.80%

20.45

135

Huntington Beach Union High

$585,800

1584

373

93.10%

24.44

136

Shoreline Unified

$767,400

1539

355

96.20%

12.31

137

Castro Valley Unified

$570,600

1608

360

94.90%

22.19

138

San Marcos Unified

$388,500

1507

370

94.50%

24.07

139

West Covina Unified

$375,900

1515

344

96.50%

18.90

140

Pacific Grove Unified

$723,400

1689

370

93.20%

18.11

141

Firebaugh-Las Deltas Joint Unified

$119,300

1186

340

91.00%

21.41

142

Murrieta Valley Unified

$286,300

1486

369

94.40%

26.45

143

Natomas Unified

$229,100

1413

350

89.20%

22.24

144

Middletown Unified

$210,600

1478

348

92.30%

20.01

145

Tulare Joint Union High

$158,500

1363

342

87.00%

21.75

146

Ojai Unified

$516,100

1578

356

93.20%

20.86

147

El Segundo Unified

$736,500

1601

389

97.00%

23.55

148

Tracy Joint Unified

$251,100

1467

349

87.30%

22.34

149

Petaluma Joint Union High

$463,800

1608

357

92.60%

19.78

150

Torrance Unified

$614,100

1580

369

95.70%

24.01

151

Atascadero Unified

$388,800

1599

343

96.40%

21.55

152

Capistrano Unified

$628,400

1612

382

97.20%

26.59

153

William S. Hart Union High

$395,600

1611

368

93.00%

24.97

154

Alhambra Unified

$489,200

1547

369

91.40%

25.00

155

Willits Unified

$251,900

1425

351

75.80%

17.47

156

Tamalpais Union High

$974,800

1721

387

96.90%

16.49

157

Lake Tahoe Unified

$353,700

1533

341

84.90%

20.39

158

Valley Center-Pauma Unified

$421,700

1506

359

98.30%

22.21

159

Alpaugh Unified

$106,300

1126

339

70.00%

8.13

160

Hanford Joint Union High

$178,000

1384

345

88.10%

25.11

161

Laytonville Unified

$321,900

1465

330

93.60%

16.28

162

Corcoran Joint Unified

$123,300

1247

343

76.70%

19.38

163

Milpitas Unified

$514,700

1601

372

92.80%

23.83

164

Red Bluff Joint Union High

$193,300

1538

344

80.30%

19.38

165

Piedmont City Unified

$1,000,000

1711

388

98.10%

14.80

166

Winters Joint Unified

$286,500

1459

345

88.20%

20.57

167

Rowland Unified

$408,200

1488

362

83.90%

22.21

168

Apple Valley Unified

$170,700

1493

341

84.00%

24.83

169

Lucia Mar Unified

$442,300

1544

354

90.80%

21.52

170

Kingsburg Joint Union High

$224,900

1416

334

93.00%

20.59

171

San Mateo Union High

$814,800

1645

379

94.40%

18.86

172

Galt Joint Union High

$230,900

1478

348

87.50%

23.29

173

Santa Cruz City High

$615,100

1636

348

89.80%

19.17

174

Sacramento City Unified

$237,300

1406

345

85.30%

26.21

175

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified

$1,000,000

1743

400

98.80%

22.75

176

Orange Unified

$539,200

1539

373

93.90%

24.29

177

Laguna Beach Unified

$1,000,000

1750

387

96.10%

20.86

178

Woodland Joint Unified

$263,600

1426

345

86.80%

21.68

179

Maxwell Unified

$151,400

1174

320

100.00%

18.16

180

Corning Union High

$151,600

1333

329

85.40%

18.15

181

Stockton Unified

$126,500

1304

333

83.10%

20.95

182

Hemet Unified

$135,900

1443

344

79.00%

24.48

183

Novato Unified

$585,400

1605

362

92.50%

19.30

184

Le Grand Union High

$120,400

1272

317

88.70%

17.10

185

Coast Unified

$643,900

1481

358

91.90%

15.55

186

Tustin Unified

$599,900

1603

381

96.80%

27.97

187

Las Virgenes Unified

$809,300

1709

379

95.40%

21.48

188

Orland Joint Unified

$207,500

1366

334

90.70%

21.63

189

San Gabriel Unified

$574,500

1587

373

89.00%

23.48

190

Liberty Union High

$313,600

1470

359

86.90%

24.08

191

Covina-Valley Unified

$371,400

1417

351

95.70%

22.46

192

Vacaville Unified

$279,500

1507

342

84.30%

22.56

193

Carlsbad Unified

$593,100

1628

375

94.80%

24.90

194

Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified

$315,600

1605

362

83.70%

21.14

195

Anaheim Union High

$385,800

1486

363

84.30%

24.57

196

Saint Helena Unified

$890,900

1576

376

95.80%

15.42

197

Gateway Unified

$190,800

1441

322

87.80%

17.83

198

Anderson Valley Unified

$528,800

1451

350

90.50%

15.03

199

Upland Unified

$421,100

1522

360

94.50%

24.06

200

Esparto Unified

$245,400

1307

357

88.80%

20.56

201

Santa Rosa High

$371,400

1608

352

82.40%

20.35

202

Ripon Unified

$308,200

1453

350

90.20%

23.46

203

Charter Oak Unified

$386,400

1401

357

94.20%

25.43

204

Escondido Union High

$362,200

1511

357

82.60%

21.89

205

Garden Grove Unified

$390,400

1450

364

89.20%

25.26

206

Chawanakee Unified

$283,600

1463

352

92.20%

18.12

207

Burbank Unified

$554,700

1568

366

91.70%

23.98

208

Tehachapi Unified

$217,200

1550

356

88.00%

23.40

209

Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified

$219,100

1456

333

90.60%

23.12

210

Tahoe-Truckee Joint Unified

$477,000

1531

348

89.70%

18.74

211

Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified

$215,300

1343

327

74.30%

15.76

212

Los Molinos Unified

$160,700

1244

327

86.20%

17.67

213

Newark Unified

$433,100

1470

350

87.90%

21.47

214

River Delta Joint Unified

$239,000

1419

333

86.10%

18.73

215

Linden Unified

$308,800

1437

349

91.50%

21.69

216

Mt. Diablo Unified

$415,500

1536

342

82.60%

20.98

217

John Swett Unified

$295,000

1375

340

89.60%

21.05

218

Colusa Unified

$174,100

1386

348

70.70%

20.71

219

Riverbank Unified

$159,000

1321

338

83.00%

21.33

220

Western Placer Unified

$331,000

1495

347

87.70%

19.48

221

San Diego Unified

$420,400

1406

349

87.90%

19.03

222

Ceres Unified

$160,200

1344

341

85.40%

23.69

223

Napa Valley Unified

$407,600

1519

341

87.60%

20.97

224

Newman-Crows Landing Unified

$141,900

1396

329

93.10%

24.30

225

Aromas-San Juan Unified

$417,400

1458

354

97.40%

18.57

226

Konocti Unified

$130,400

1369

332

81.50%

21.48

227

Bellflower Unified

$369,300

1466

352

93.20%

24.37

228

Windsor Unified

$386,600

1590

344

89.30%

19.57

229

Manteca Unified

$200,800

1405

337

92.00%

24.48

230

Santa Maria Joint Union High

$274,100

1397

335

84.00%

22.73

231

Hacienda La Puente Unified

$361,500

1412

345

88.40%

22.06

232

Ramona City Unified

$383,100

1551

354

88.60%

26.20

233

Marysville Joint Unified

$165,700

1420

330

79.70%

22.88

234

Dinuba Unified

$153,600

1318

320

92.00%

19.88

235

Farmersville Unified

$105,700

1146

338

89.10%

20.83

236

San Rafael City High

$694,900

1558

362

91.40%

19.13

237

Grossmont Union High

$347,200

1464

355

78.30%

25.24

238

Delhi Unified

$134,700

1337

325

89.30%

23.65

239

Kerman Unified

$170,200

1356

346

87.20%

25.26

240

Berkeley Unified

$698,600

1669

347

85.50%

16.00

241

Chino Valley Unified

$384,200

1478

350

89.00%

25.82

242

Beverly Hills Unified

$1,000,000

1733

391

95.00%

16.72

243

Coalinga-Huron Joint Unified

$145,900

1389

318

71.00%

22.28

244

Fairfield-Suisun Unified

$251,300

1454

331

89.50%

24.15

245

Chaffey Joint Union High

$297,500

1426

351

86.20%

26.20

246

Patterson Joint Unified

$166,800

1380

339

87.70%

25.06

247

Paso Robles Joint Unified

$366,600

1552

345

87.50%

22.15

248

Selma Unified

$173,600

1314

332

91.10%

20.62

249

El Tejon Unified

$208,200

1489

337

84.40%

24.18

250

Lake Elsinore Unified

$223,300

1411

344

88.80%

23.70

251

Taft Union High

$119,700

1410

338

96.90%

15.18

252

Azusa Unified

$304,500

1346

334

93.00%

20.24

253

Calexico Unified

$153,600

1321

325

75.40%

25.85

254

Victor Valley Union High

$135,200

1343

339

78.50%

24.68

255

Kings Canyon Joint Unified

$169,200

1313

337

90.00%

21.27

256

Culver City Unified

$609,200

1530

369

86.60%

23.01

257

Lucerne Valley Unified

$101,100

1342

349

68.40%

19.19

258

Healdsburg Unified

$518,900

1572

345

89.30%

21.08

259

Barstow Unified

$104,100

1299

328

73.10%

22.63

260

Dixon Unified

$298,400

1460

339

81.00%

21.97

261

Twin Rivers Unified

$155,600

1343

328

75.30%

20.40

262

Desert Sands Unified

$278,900

1393

353

85.60%

25.09

263

Redondo Beach Unified

$715,000

1592

371

90.70%

23.85

264

Vista Unified

$360,200

1510

351

81.10%

22.92

265

Antioch Unified

$232,600

1421

336

77.80%

22.50

266

San Lorenzo Unified

$335,000

1392

344

85.80%

21.91

267

New Haven Unified

$460,700

1524

345

79.80%

23.71

268

Mammoth Unified

$490,300

1530

356

82.00%

17.71

269

Delano Joint Union High

$138,400

1319

361

92.90%

25.28

270

King City Joint Union High

$196,900

1359

331

82.60%

25.60

271

Downey Unified

$396,200

1418

353

92.70%

24.54

272

Hesperia Unified

$152,200

1343

332

83.20%

25.65

273

Oceanside Unified

$327,700

1519

347

87.00%

24.25

274

Salinas Union High

$287,500

1378

333

80.20%

21.45

275

Palo Verde Unified

$124,100

1342

316

81.70%

24.28

276

Campbell Union High

$681,600

1604

361

91.40%

21.88

277

Fresno Unified

$158,900

1338

325

76.20%

20.83

278

Pierce Joint Unified

$220,700

1356

337

94.60%

20.25

279

Beaumont Unified

$199,200

1414

339

88.90%

26.21

280

San Benito High

$339,300

1469

343

88.70%

25.36

281

Chowchilla Union High

$155,500

1420

331

80.80%

22.58

282

Norwalk-La Mirada Unified

$345,300

1399

341

94.00%

23.42

283

Jefferson Union High

$581,400

1489

351

91.00%

22.44

284

El Monte Union High

$371,900

1377

344

86.70%

21.95

285

Los Banos Unified

$146,000

1350

338

89.50%

26.52

286

Duarte Unified

$360,600

1385

340

93.20%

22.58

287

Long Beach Unified

$421,000

1427

344

80.80%

25.07

288

South San Francisco Unified

$577,300

1467

349

93.80%

22.43

289

Palm Springs Unified

$194,100

1328

341

87.20%

25.32

290

Fallbrook Union High

$443,400

1491

346

86.00%

22.62

291

Baldwin Park Unified

$285,100

1342

337

93.20%

24.16

292

Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified

$108,500

1316

317

87.50%

26.65

293

East Side Union High

$469,000

1459

352

82.00%

22.85

294

San Jacinto Unified

$126,200

1300

338

81.60%

24.85

295

Perris Union High

$182,000

1361

344

84.40%

28.18

296

Calistoga Joint Unified

$477,800

1336

345

83.30%

16.51

297

Morgan Hill Unified

$596,600

1522

357

93.20%

23.16

298

Fontana Unified

$208,700

1311

342

86.40%

23.69

299

Pomona Unified

$286,900

1292

323

79.10%

16.35

300

Mountain Empire Unified

$242,700

1365

330

70.00%

16.54

301

Rialto Unified

$168,900

1316

332

80.00%

24.05

302

San Leandro Unified

$373,800

1384

334

82.40%

20.63

303

San Bernardino City Unified

$158,300

1318

327

75.50%

21.90

304

Mendota Unified

$112,800

1215

317

80.40%

22.39

305

Central Unified

$191,600

1327

327

79.60%

23.66

306

Antelope Valley Union Joint High

$167,700

1362

327

77.70%

24.35

307

Fillmore Unified

$305,600

1449

322

87.20%

24.44

308

Sweetwater Union High

$331,000

1411

350

83.20%

23.69

309

Point Arena Joint Union High

$476,400

1310

326

81.30%

10.18

310

Denair Unified

$280,800

1449

323

75.00%

16.04

311

Santa Ana Unified

$342,300

1359

335

85.90%

23.40

312

Gilroy Unified

$464,400

1536

360

83.80%

22.34

313

Cabrillo Unified

$745,100

1653

364

88.70%

23.24

314

Oxnard Union High

$371,000

1426

339

77.50%

24.86

315

Corona-Norco Unified

$348,200

1462

352

91.90%

24.48

316

Riverside Unified

$262,000

1428

342

85.50%

25.39

317

San Jose Unified

$646,400

1534

355

81.70%

19.94

318

Madera Unified

$156,500

1312

327

83.40%

22.28

319

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified

$1,000,000

1616

383

93.50%

20.83

320

Southern Kern Unified

$121,100

1401

321

77.60%

24.67

321

El Rancho Unified

$331,100

1311

346

87.50%

23.77

322

Monrovia Unified

$493,400

1319

362

86.80%

22.23

323

Santa Clara Unified

$581,200

1526

355

81.30%

22.72

324

Cloverdale Unified

$353,500

1463

339

79.30%

21.57

325

Parlier Unified

$113,000

1240

318

80.70%

20.88

326

Reef-Sunset Unified

$114,600

1191

307

77.10%

21.49

327

Caruthers Unified

$231,100

1237

320

92.10%

19.24

328

Val Verde Unified

$173,100

1306

338

90.20%

25.17

329

Wasco Union High

$132,000

1374

344

83.50%

24.44

330

Upper Lake Union High

$162,700

1366

310

84.70%

20.65

331

Colton Joint Unified

$193,900

1335

322

77.80%

21.20

332

Paramount Unified

$281,400

1284

336

80.80%

23.61

333

Newport-Mesa Unified

$834,000

1513

370

93.40%

22.20

334

Carpinteria Unified

$654,000

1462

346

91.60%

22.19

335

Whittier Union High

$362,400

1350

352

87.30%

27.30

336

Willows Unified

$219,800

1311

320

82.70%

25.74

337

Sequoia Union High

$902,900

1570

363

87.70%

17.75

338

Bassett Unified

$312,500

1324

336

91.30%

22.79

339

Sonoma Valley Unified

$506,100

1536

335

87.60%

20.94

340

Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified

$142,500

1138

314

76.30%

19.20

341

Santa Paula Union High

$324,200

1308

332

85.10%

26.89

342

Gonzales Unified

$214,300

1260

305

81.00%

22.41

343

Pittsburg Unified

$210,200

1319

318

71.30%

21.51

344

Moreno Valley Unified

$179,300

1327

326

81.50%

23.44

345

Vallejo City Unified

$218,300

1345

330

65.00%

23.61

346

Porterville Unified

$133,600

1353

330

83.70%

25.43

347

Alvord Unified

$226,400

1366

344

80.20%

25.83

348

Kern Union High

$165,300

1367

338

79.60%

22.87

349

Monterey Peninsula Unified

$448,600

1381

340

85.00%

19.44

350

Coachella Valley Unified

$139,200

1209

325

79.10%

21.69

351

Lindsay Unified

$148,800

1300

315

82.70%

24.01

352

Jurupa Unified

$216,600

1353

331

82.00%

23.06

353

Williams Unified

$169,000

1312

300

78.70%

22.44

354

Alameda City Unified

$618,800

1475

363

84.70%

20.29

355

McFarland Unified

$115,800

1199

331

83.30%

18.68

356

Hayward Unified

$332,600

1340

338

76.70%

23.07

357

Montebello Unified

$365,300

1336

332

87.30%

25.24

358

West Contra Costa Unified

$326,100

1343

324

79.90%

22.04

359

Gonzales Unified

$304,800

1260

305

81.00%

22.41

360

North Monterey County Unified

$353,100

1355

326

81.90%

20.11

361

Porterville Unified

$167,900

1353

330

83.70%

25.43

362

Soledad Unified

$206,400

1272

313

84.00%

23.66

363

Banning Unified

$158,700

1282

314

83.70%

26.77

364

Mojave Unified

$88,500

1280

318

74.90%

23.61

365

Pajaro Valley Joint Unified

$444,600

1365

321

88.60%

25.06

366

San Francisco Unified

$744,600

1353

338

81.70%

17.04

367

Pasadena Unified

$600,600

1338

330

82.80%

20.44

368

Acton-Agua Dulce Unified

$451,600

1395

335

86.60%

23.36

369

Los Angeles Unified

$417,000

1254

330

68.10%

20.68

370

La Honda-Pescadero Unified

$884,800

1423

340

87.50%

12.70

371

Centinela Valley Union High

$386,300

1247

317

68.20%

25.63

372

Inglewood Unified

$352,400

1210

318

80.60%

26.07

373

Compton Unified

$238,200

1169

308

65.00%

23.25

374

Emery Unified

$296,000

1182

319

80.00%

17.07

375

Oakland Unified

$428,800

1254

327

62.80%

18.14

NerdWallet analyzed California’s unified and secondary school districts. Some districts were excluded from the final list because they lacked education or housing data.

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